Super Eagles AFCON Betting Guide for Nigerian Bettors

Nigeria’s Route to AFCON 2027

After missing out on the chance to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles are looking to redeem themselves by putting in strong performances at the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. They are in Group L alongside Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, and host Tanzania.

While the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has designed the AFCON qualifying system to send the top two teams from each group to the finals, Group L works differently. As a co-host, Tanzania has already qualified automatically, leaving only one spot to be claimed.

Despite already qualifying, Tanzania will still take part in the qualifiers by playing the other three teams home and away. Their automatic place means only the team finishing highest outside Tanzania will qualify from Group L. So, Nigeria must finish above Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau to secure a spot in the tournament. 

When the Group L matches begin in September, Nigeria will host Madagascar at home before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau. Tanzania will also begin their campaign with a home game against Guinea-Bissau. The remaining qualifiers are spread across two more international windows in November 2026 and March 2027. For more guides to betting on Nigerian football, browse our betting strategy guides.

Super Eagles Squad and Current Form

The Super Eagles have retained their head coach, Eric Chelle, who took them to 3rd at the 2025 AFCON, and the Malian will lead them into the start of the qualifying campaign. His squad for the opening qualifiers keeps several key players, including Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, and Wilfred Ndidi, while also bringing newer players into the senior team. 

However, one important absence is Victor Osimhen. The striker will miss a couple of matches due to a muscle injury. This has paved the way for the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi and Tolu Arokodare to join other attacking options like Ademola Lookman, Chukwueze, and Akor Adams. 

Nigeria come into this qualifying round after finishing 3rd at AFCON 2025. They lost in the semi-finals to hosts Morocco on penalties, then beat Egypt on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the third-place match. The Super Eagles have had a couple of friendly matches since then with wins over Iran, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica. However, they’ve also drawn to Jordan and Poland and lost 2-1 to Portugal. If you also follow the domestic game, our guide to betting on the Nigeria Premier Football League covers how that market works.

Why This Qualifying Campaign Carries Extra Weight

Nigeria has been waiting to secure a 4th AFCON title since winning the 3rd one in 2013. That’s over a decade and still counting. After missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 3-4 loss on penalties to DR Congo, the Super Eagles still fell short of winning the 2025 AFCON hosted by Morocco. They finished 3rd following a 4-2 penalty win over Egypt.

The dream of winning the 4th AFCON is still alive, and the Nigeria National Team is desperate to give something back to the country. As a result, this 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign is even more important. It’s the first step to fulfilling that dream.

As a result, the players cannot take qualification for granted simply because the Super Eagles have a stronger AFCON history than the other teams in Group L. The unusual group format also makes individual results against Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania even more critical to secure the only qualification spot left. 

Before placing a bet, you should consider the importance of matches when evaluating the betting markets during this AFCON qualifying window. A team's reputation can shape how you view a match, but the actual squad, venue, recent results, and qualification situation can all change how a fixture plays out. For a wider look at where to place these wagers, see our guide to the best football betting sites in Nigeria.

Betting Markets to Expect for AFCON 2027

Most Nigerian betting sites cover AFCON and AFCON qualifiers. However, markets may vary by bookmaker and by the competition stage. For example, most markets will focus on individual matches during qualification. You can get broader tournament markets when the final lineup for AFCON 2027 becomes clearer. Here are examples of the betting markets you can expect.

Match Result Markets

This is the standard match result market where you can bet on a home win, draw or away win. You’re predicting which team will win a single match or whether it will end in a draw. For Nigeria’s qualifiers, look beyond the team names before you bet. Consider home advantage, injuries, squad availability, and the importance of the game to each team. 

Other common match markets may include total goals, both teams to score, correct score, and double chance. The exact options will depend on the bookmaker and fixture. 

Outright Winner

With the tournament getting closer, betting sites typically offer an outright market on which country will win AFCON 2027. Nigeria may appear in that market if they qualify, but an outright market covers the entire tournament, not just one match. 

A team must get through the group stage and knockout rounds before winning the competition. So, when betting on this market, consider squad depth, group difficulty, potential knockout opponents, and the team's track record of advancing to later stages.

Group Stage Qualification

If Nigeria makes it past the current qualifying window, they get into the pot for the AFCON 2027 finals draw. After this, bookmakers may offer markets on whether they will progress from their tournament group. This applies to every other participating team, including those at the qualifying stage or those already qualified. 

Please note that this market is different from betting on Nigeria to qualify for AFCON itself. The current qualifying campaign determines who reaches the tournament. A group-stage qualification market at the finals lets you bet on the countries to advance from their AFCON group into the knockout stage.

Top Scorer Markets

Top scorer betting is all about which player will score the most goals in the tournament. This market depends heavily on the players that make the final squad and how far their team progresses. For example, a recognised striker may look like an obvious pick, but minutes played, penalties, fitness and the number of matches his team plays can affect his chances. 

Nigeria’s AFCON Pedigree

Nigeria is not new to AFCON glory, having won the tournament three times in 1980, 1994 and 2013. The Super Eagles’ recent record also shows they’ve regularly competed in the later stages. For example, Nigeria finished runners-up at AFCON 2023 and then came third at AFCON 2025 after defeating Egypt in the third-place playoff. 

This history helps explain why Nigeria attracts attention at AFCON. However, history isn’t enough to determine what happens in the 2027 qualifiers. The team must finish ahead of Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau to claim the remaining qualification spot in Group L. 

Responsible Gambling

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission has declared gambling by people under 18 illegal. So, you must be 18 or older to place a bet in Nigeria. State gaming authorities may also have additional requirements for bookmakers and players in their jurisdictions. 

Additionally, your support for the Super Eagles shouldn’t change how much you spend on bets. The qualifying campaign runs across several months, so set a budget that’s convenient for you instead of trying to back Nigeria at the expense of your finances. 

It’s also important to use licensed or recognised betting operators to guarantee the safety of your money and data. If betting ever gets out of control, these platforms offer responsible gambling tools that can help you stay in charge.